Fences for the Christmas tree were made of a variety of materials. Some of the earliest were made of wood or cast iron, and then later versions introduced sheet metal and plastic. The cast iron fences mimicked the elaborate detail of the Victorian fences surrounding people’s homes. Wood fences were built of twigs, tree branches, or more commonly - wood planks. One may also find fences that were pre-wired and contain sockets for lights on the fence posts.

Some fences came in sections allowing the consumer to create any length of fencing that they desired. Many fences had a gate for “entrance” into the enclosure. Inside the fences people included small cardboard houses, composition animals, German folk art pieces, dolls, toys, or any other items that they wished to use as decoration. Some built elaborate Christmas villages or Christmas gardens, with the fence enclosing these wonderful creations.

The fences pictured are part of my collection that I displayed at the local Library during the Christmas season.

Comments

fenton-hobnail, 9 years agoi have a christmas tree fence, but i never really thought anything about it. mine is cast iron and it is very intricate, and has gold leaf applied to it. are these fences worth anything? mine is packed away in a cabinet... maybe i should get it out and post it.

TheGateKeeper, 9 years agoI would love to see it. Value is in the eye of the beholder.

TheGateKeeper, 2 years agoThanks buckethead. I attend a few collector shows each year. These are 8' long to fit on the front or back of a display table. They are intended for use under a Christmas tree, but I have not used them that way. Glad you enjoyed our them.